Wearable computer pointing apparatus

Abstract

An upper-arm computer pointing apparatus, comprising: at least one orientation measurer, deployable on at least one area of an upper arm of a user, configured to measure orientation of the upper arm, at least one pressure meter, deployable on at least one area of the upper arm, configured to measure pressure applied by muscle of the upper arm, a computer processor, associated with the orientation measurer and pressure meter, configured to derive control data from the measured orientation and pressure, and a data transmitter, associated with the computer processor, configured to transmit the control data to a computing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wearable computer pointing apparatus, comprising:
 a wearable apparatus adapted for placement about a body portion of a user comprising:
 at least one orientation measurer, deployable over muscle of the body portion of the user, configured to electromechanically measure orientation of the body portion; 
 a computer processor physically attached to the wearable apparatus, associated with the orientation measurer, configured to (i) derive control data from the measured orientation and (ii) translate at least one of an angular orientation change or a movement in a predefined direction measured by the orientation measurer into input data included in the control data; and 
 a data transmitter physically attached to the wearable apparatus, associated with the computer processor, configured to transmit the control data to a computing device in communication with the wearable computer pointing apparatus, wherein:
 the computing device is different than the computer processor, located physically apart from the wearable apparatus and externally connected to the wearable computer pointing apparatus; 
 the wearable computer pointing apparatus is configured to control an operation of the computing device based on the control data, thereby allowing the user to remotely control the computing device; and 
 the input data is configured to provide a selection operation at the computing device. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the data transmitter is further configured to transmit the control data to the computing device over a wireless connection. 
     
     
       3. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a data convertor, implemented on the computing device, configured to receive the transmitted control data and convert the transmitted control data into mouse protocol compliant control data. 
     
     
       4. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to derive the control data as mouse protocol compliant control data. 
     
     
       5. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one orientation measurer comprises at least two orientation measurers deployable on the body portion, and the computer processor is further configured to compare a measurement of a first one of the orientation measurers with a measurement of a second one of the orientation measurers, for deriving the control data. 
     
     
       6. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one orientation measurer comprises a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. 
     
     
       7. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one orientation measurer comprises an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit). 
     
     
       8. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , where the computer processor is further configured to translate an angular orientation change measured by at least one of the at least one orientation measurer into mouse speed change data included in the derived control data. 
     
     
       9. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one orientation measurer is further configured to measure angular orientation of the body portion. 
     
     
       10. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one orientation measurer is further configured to measure bi-dimensional positional orientation of the body portion. 
     
     
       11. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one orientation measurer is further configured to measure tri-dimensional positional orientation of the body portion. 
     
     
       12. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one orientation measurer is deployable over the muscle of the body portion of the user. 
     
     
       13. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one orientation measurer is further configured to electromechanically measure an angle of inclination of the body portion with respect to a preselected surface of reference. 
     
     
       14. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pressure meter, deployable on at least one area of the body portion of the user, in communication with the computer processor, configured to measure pressure applied by the muscle of the body portion, wherein the computer processor is configured to derive the control data from the measured orientation and the measured pressure. 
     
     
       15. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one pressure meter comprises at least two pressure meters deployable on the body portion, over opposite sides of the muscle, and the computer processor is further configured to compare a first measurement of a first one of the pressure meters with a second measurement of a second one of the pressure meters, for deriving the control data and to identify a tremor of the muscle based on the comparison and a deviation of the first measurement from a reference value over time. 
     
     
       16. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the at least one pressure meter comprises an FSR (Force Sensing Resistor). 
     
     
       17. The wearable computer pointing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to translate a pressure change measured by at least one of the at least one pressure meter into the input data included in the derived control data. 
     
     
       18. A wearable computer pointing apparatus, comprising:
 a wearable apparatus adapted for placement about a body portion an upper arm of a user comprising:
 at least one pressure meter, deployable over muscle of the body portion of the user, configured to measure pressure applied by the muscle of the body portion; 
 a computer processor physically attached to the wearable apparatus, associated with the pressure meter, configured to (i) derive control data from the measured pressure and (ii) translate a pressure change measured by the pressure meter into input data included in the control data; and 
 a data transmitter physically attached to the wearable apparatus, associated with the computer processor, configured to transmit the control data to a computing device in communication with the wearable computer pointing apparatus, wherein:
 the computing device is different than the computer processor, located physically apart from the wearable apparatus and externally connected to the wearable computer pointing apparatus; 
 the wearable computer pointing apparatus is configured to control an operation of the computing device based on the control data, thereby allowing the user to remotely control the computing device; and 
 the input data is configured to provide a selection operation at the computing device. 
 
 
 
     
     
       19. A method for computer pointing, comprising:
 positioning an apparatus over muscle of a body portion an of a user; 
 electromechanically measuring orientation of the body portion of the user, on at least one area of the body portion using the apparatus that comprises an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or both an accelerometer and a gyroscope; 
 deriving control data from the measured orientation; 
 translating at least one of an angular orientation change or a movement in a predefined direction measured by the apparatus into input data included in the control data; 
 transmitting the control data to a computing device in communication with the apparatus, wherein the input data is configured to provide a selection operation at the computing device; and 
 controlling an operation of the computing device based on the control data, thereby allowing the user to remotely control the computing device. 
 
     
     
       20. A method for computer pointing, comprising:
 using an apparatus that comprises at least one pressure meter deployed over muscle of a body portion an of a user, measuring pressure applied by the muscle of the body portion on the pressure meter; 
 deriving control data from the measured pressure; 
 translating a pressure change measured by the apparatus into input data included in the control data; 
 transmitting the control data to a computing device in communication with the apparatus, wherein the input data is configured to provide a selection operation at the computing device; and 
 controlling an operation of the computing device based on the control data, thereby allowing the user to remotely control the computing device.